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First Beginner Road Bike

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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway
View Poll Results: First Beginner Road Bike
Cannondale Synapse Carbon 5 105
46.77%
Specialized Tarmac SL4 Sport
27.42%
Trek Madone 4.3
25.81%
Voters: 62. You may not vote on this poll

First Beginner Road Bike

Old 07-02-14, 12:55 PM
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Originally Posted by rms13
Maybe you'll run into my friend with his $10K bike in the back of his GMC pick up. Or his $5k bike. One reason he can afford the bikes is because he could afford a much more expensive car but he has priorities. He's also a competitive Ironman/Triathalete so he spends money on his bikes
My point wasn't about the price of the bike vs. the price of the truck... or even that the goofball didn't have any rack for the thing (My bike is probably worth the same as my car.) It was that he was a complete freakin' novice, wasn't in the physical condition to ride and didn't even have a clue where to ride. Yet, here he is with a high dollar racing bike.

My theory on this is that he knew he was getting out of shape & found walking and running to be unenjoyable. He sees guys on bikes & figures that looks much more comfortable, and those guys on bikes are skinny, so he wants to try it out. So, he goes to the LBS to see what he can find.

Instead of being set up with a bike suitable for a beginner (doesn't rightly matter if it's a $5000 bike or $500,) they put him on what's probably the most expensive bike they can find - even though they KNOW a racing bike is NOT the proper bike for him. The reason he wasn't on a $5000 bike suitable for a beginner is that no such animal exists that I know of outside of custom jobs.

Predatory Bike Shops combined with elitist bike snobs do more to harm the "sport" of cycling than anything...
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Old 07-02-14, 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Roopull
My point wasn't about the price of the bike vs. the price of the truck... or even that the goofball didn't have any rack for the thing (My bike is probably worth the same as my car.) It was that he was a complete freakin' novice, wasn't in the physical condition to ride and didn't even have a clue where to ride. Yet, here he is with a high dollar racing bike.

My theory on this is that he knew he was getting out of shape & found walking and running to be unenjoyable. He sees guys on bikes & figures that looks much more comfortable, and those guys on bikes are skinny, so he wants to try it out. So, he goes to the LBS to see what he can find.

Instead of being set up with a bike suitable for a beginner (doesn't rightly matter if it's a $5000 bike or $500,) they put him on what's probably the most expensive bike they can find - even though they KNOW a racing bike is NOT the proper bike for him. The reason he wasn't on a $5000 bike suitable for a beginner is that no such animal exists that I know of outside of custom jobs.

Predatory Bike Shops combined with elitist bike snobs do more to harm the "sport" of cycling than anything...
What do you consider appropriate for a beginner, a child's bike with training wheels? There are different levels of beginner. My interpretation of this thread is OP has never owned a drop bar road bike. You seem to be acting like he's never ridden a bike before. I had been riding bikes for about 30 years before I bought my first road bike. I already had a pretty good handle on staying upright and understanding how a bike handles. The first road bike I bought had "race geometry". I've since upgraded to an even more aggressive twitchy frameset and I have yet to crash my bike and I'm willing to bet that if and when that happens it's not going to be because I can't handle my bike. If someone can ride a bike they should be able to ride any bike, it's not rocket science here.
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Old 07-02-14, 02:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Roopull
My point wasn't about the price of the bike vs. the price of the truck... or even that the goofball didn't have any rack for the thing (My bike is probably worth the same as my car.) It was that he was a complete freakin' novice, wasn't in the physical condition to ride and didn't even have a clue where to ride. Yet, here he is with a high dollar racing bike.

My theory on this is that he knew he was getting out of shape & found walking and running to be unenjoyable. He sees guys on bikes & figures that looks much more comfortable, and those guys on bikes are skinny, so he wants to try it out. So, he goes to the LBS to see what he can find.

Instead of being set up with a bike suitable for a beginner (doesn't rightly matter if it's a $5000 bike or $500,) they put him on what's probably the most expensive bike they can find - even though they KNOW a racing bike is NOT the proper bike for him. The reason he wasn't on a $5000 bike suitable for a beginner is that no such animal exists that I know of outside of custom jobs.

Predatory Bike Shops combined with elitist bike snobs do more to harm the "sport" of cycling than anything...
Where is the "Like" button?
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Old 07-02-14, 03:40 PM
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Originally Posted by rms13
What do you consider appropriate for a beginner, a child's bike with training wheels? There are different levels of beginner. My interpretation of this thread is OP has never owned a drop bar road bike. You seem to be acting like he's never ridden a bike before...
You do realize that the bit you quoted isn't in reference to the OP, right?

RE the OP, my objection to the bikes he listed is that they're carbon fiber, pricier than what he NEEDS and at least one of them has aggressive geometry (forgive me for not going back to page 1 & confirming all that.) Since carbon is expensive and difficult to repair (if not actually impossible,) I feel it's a horrible material for a beginner's bike.

I think a beginner would be best on aluminum or steel with a more relaxed geometry... preferably a cheaper bike.
I think the bike should be a cheaper bike because - as a beginner - they really won't know what kind of riding they'll actually enjoy. Will they turn out to be a sprinter? A long haul touring type? A commuter? A relaxed cruiser? An all out racer? Even if you're loaded with more money than you know what to do with, buying an expensive bike to start out with is kinda silly, especially since almost everyone will agree that with the diminishing returns on cycling investment, he won't reap the benefits of "better" more expensive bikes til he's been riding a while.


The trend I'm seeing in responses to that is people with tons of posts get defensive & act like I called their mamma fat when anyone suggests a bike is too expensive.


The long-term members who are getting offended use the term "jealous" quite a bit. So, I'll throw in this caveat... if the guy want's to spend two grand on a bike, I think that, instead of the carbon fiber ones he has been steered towards, he'd be better served by something like a Bianchi Vigorelli. It's light, sturdy and versatile.

But, you know... I'd steer him towards the Lupo at about half the price.
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Old 07-02-14, 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted by SundayNiagara
Where is the "Like" button?
It's simulated with "+1".

But how can a person know in fact, that a race bike is not the proper bike for a given person? Even out of shape and over weight, maybe his plan is to get in race-shape. Or maybe it's $5000 worth of motivation for him. Who knows?
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Old 07-02-14, 04:18 PM
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Originally Posted by wphamilton
It's simulated with "+1".

But how can a person know in fact, that a race bike is not the proper bike for a given person? Even out of shape and over weight, maybe his plan is to get in race-shape. Or maybe it's $5000 worth of motivation for him. Who knows?
All it takes is a competent sales person who asks probing questions. See my previous post on this subject.
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Old 07-02-14, 05:15 PM
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Originally Posted by wphamilton
It's simulated with "+1".

But how can a person know in fact, that a race bike is not the proper bike for a given person? Even out of shape and over weight, maybe his plan is to get in race-shape. Or maybe it's $5000 worth of motivation for him. Who knows?
Well, that's why I would tend to believe that a less expensive bike and a bike that is a good "all arounder" would be a better selection. Maybe a racing bike is the right choice. If it is, he'd be satisfied with a good all arounder for a while. But, if what he needs is a flat bar hybrid with a big fat cushy saddle, a racing bike will just frustrate him. But, the all arounder would work.

I guess I just think that a multi-tool is better if you don't know what kind of tool you're going to need rather than going off & buying a hammer & hoping you find some nails.



Then again, your motivation comment is valid. I know a guy who did just that... In my humble little opinion, he got a horrible bike for him. It's a very very nice triathlon bike that he can barely ride, but whatever. He says the purchase - spending that wad of cash - is his self motivation for actually riding. He says he knew he wouldn't be able to stand the thought of spending all that money on a bike & never riding it.

Whatever works, I suppose. Last I heard, it does seem to be working. He made it up to a 20 mile ride. If he sticks with it, he'll be able to ride it just fine & justify the purchase to himself - the only person that really matters anyway.
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Old 07-02-14, 11:11 PM
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Originally Posted by CactoesGel
Hello everyone! I'm an avid runner that wants to switch to cycling.

Cannondale Synapse Carbon 5 105 - MSRP $2,330

Specialized Tarmac SL4 Sport - MSRP $2,100

Trek Madone 4.3 - MSRP $2,099.99
First road bike? I just unboxed and tuned up a Windsor Wellington 3 bike from Bikesdirect.com for a new roadie. $400 shipped. Great starter bike.

On your first bike, you will get the wrong frame size. And you will crash it. It will tip over at some point, or fall off the rack on your vehicle. And when you start wrenching, you will do something dumb such as crush the carbon top tube in the bench vice.

And after about a year, you will eventually want different components than the stock, after riding friends bikes. For example after riding Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo shifters, you will figure out why the Shimano shifters are a distant third in terms of ergonomics. So think as your first bike as an experiment. So don't spend a lot. Ride as many different bikes as you can first.

And, all of the bikes you named are 'big brand' models. Solid, conservative choices, but you'll pay a significant premium over lesser known brands.

Finally, if you ride in a Fondo, with the choices above, you may find some comfort in that you will see hundreds of your same bike on the road.
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Old 07-03-14, 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Roopull
You do realize that the bit you quoted isn't in reference to the OP, right?

RE the OP, my objection to the bikes he listed is that they're carbon fiber, pricier than what he NEEDS and at least one of them has aggressive geometry (forgive me for not going back to page 1 & confirming all that.) Since carbon is expensive and difficult to repair (if not actually impossible,) I feel it's a horrible material for a beginner's bike.

I think a beginner would be best on aluminum or steel with a more relaxed geometry... preferably a cheaper bike.
I think the bike should be a cheaper bike because - as a beginner - they really won't know what kind of riding they'll actually enjoy. Will they turn out to be a sprinter? A long haul touring type? A commuter? A relaxed cruiser? An all out racer? Even if you're loaded with more money than you know what to do with, buying an expensive bike to start out with is kinda silly, especially since almost everyone will agree that with the diminishing returns on cycling investment, he won't reap the benefits of "better" more expensive bikes til he's been riding a while.


The trend I'm seeing in responses to that is people with tons of posts get defensive & act like I called their mamma fat when anyone suggests a bike is too expensive.


The long-term members who are getting offended use the term "jealous" quite a bit. So, I'll throw in this caveat... if the guy want's to spend two grand on a bike, I think that, instead of the carbon fiber ones he has been steered towards, he'd be better served by something like a Bianchi Vigorelli. It's light, sturdy and versatile.

But, you know... I'd steer him towards the Lupo at about half the price.
I think OP knows what he wants and NEEDS more than any of us. If he ends up wanting a touring bike or a more aggressive bike I'm sure he'll be able to quickly sell the Synapse.
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Old 07-03-14, 12:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Dave Mayer
First road bike? I just unboxed and tuned up a Windsor Wellington 3 bike from Bikesdirect.com for a new roadie. $400 shipped. Great starter bike.

On your first bike, you will get the wrong frame size. And you will crash it. It will tip over at some point, or fall off the rack on your vehicle. And when you start wrenching, you will do something dumb such as crush the carbon top tube in the bench vice.

And after about a year, you will eventually want different components than the stock, after riding friends bikes. For example after riding Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo shifters, you will figure out why the Shimano shifters are a distant third in terms of ergonomics. So think as your first bike as an experiment. So don't spend a lot. Ride as many different bikes as you can first.

And, all of the bikes you named are 'big brand' models. Solid, conservative choices, but you'll pay a significant premium over lesser known brands.

Finally, if you ride in a Fondo, with the choices above, you may find some comfort in that you will see hundreds of your same bike on the road.
OP test rode all these bikes at LBS. He spent over $2000 on the Synapse. Do you really think the LBS didn't fit him for the bike? I've been riding rode for 3 years, and bikes in general for 30 years and never crashed. You can't say it's inevitable that someone is going to crash their bike.

Spending $2000 I think it is much less likely they will want to upgrade components after a year. If you buy a cheap bike like the Wellington which weighs about 25 lbs and has Sora or Claris than you will want to upgrade quickly. The whole point of spending money up front on a nicer bike is you wont' feel the need to upgrade
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Old 07-03-14, 12:48 PM
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Originally Posted by timmbo
Buying a first road bike is tough, like it was mentioned already, you simply don't know what you want/like/need. Here was my process of buying 4 bikes in just under a year, LOL.

- 1st bike: Used Trek 1000, mostly Sora. I finally realized I should buy a road bike as I was traveling longer distances with my mountain bike. I saw some Scott Speedsters on clearance at the LBS, but my wife was not keen on me spending a $1000 on something I may not use much. So anyway, I found the used Trek for $500. I started with this, found it it was too small at a 56cm, and also I found I liked riding in the drops, and Sora shifters are not the best option for this.

- 2nd bike: I found an old model brand new Trek 1.5 with 9 SPD Tiagra at a bike shop for $800. It was a 58cm. I loved it. Shifting wasn't always the smoothest, and it was a triple crank which after owning it didn't seem to make sense for me. I loved the Tiagra style shifters. After I purchased this bike my wife let me get all the gear for the bike, so that was cool. What led to me purchasing the next bike was that my wife purchased a bike with 105 5700 shifters. After seeing how smooth this shifted, I was super jealous. I also had an appreciation for Trek's 200 series aluminum vs: the 1.5's 100 series aluminum.

- 3rd bike: LBS had a clearance special on a 2012 2.1. This bike was full Sram, so it had a compact crank. After the first test drive I was in love with the geometry of this bike, and also the Sram shifting. I absolutely loved this bike, rode it a ton, and really enjoyed it. I found that since it was equipped with the Bontrager Speed Trap sensor on the fork (vs having something measuring the rear wheel rotation) that in the winter I was not able to monitor anything on my trainer. Not a huge deal, but sort of annoying. Also the 11-32 cassette was a little more extreme than I needed.

- 4th bike: Found a deal on a brand new Trek Madone 4.6 in the box at a bike shop. Geometry was the same as my 2.1, 4.6 is equipped with Sram Rival, and the DuoTrap sensor for speed and cadence. Also now into full carbon fiber. This was really the first time I knew EVERYTHING I wanted in a new bike. Cassette is an 11-28 which is perfect. I have this equipped with my Selle Drakon saddle, and life is good!

In short, you simply can't know what it right for you on the first bike. I test many other bikes, and of course feeling comfortable and getting the correct geometry is HUGE. Getting a road bike perfect the first time is possible if you do TONS AND TONS of research, and test ride like crazy, but that would get annoying. Oh well, do what works for you!
Now that's what I call brand loyalty.
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Old 07-03-14, 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by mercator
Now that's what I call brand loyalty.
Well, first off, the brand has been loyal to me in that the bikes have been amazing. Also, I live in WI, and although the bikes are not built in WI, I would rather support a WI company if possible. Also, the geometry of that model Madone fits me perfectly. I have tried the Scott, Cannondale, and Giant, and the Madone just feels right at home for me. That and I love the Sram shifting.
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Old 07-03-14, 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted by rms13
OP test rode all these bikes at LBS. He spent over $2000 on the Synapse. Do you really think the LBS didn't fit him for the bike? I've been riding rode for 3 years, and bikes in general for 30 years and never crashed. You can't say it's inevitable that someone is going to crash their bike.

Spending $2000 I think it is much less likely they will want to upgrade components after a year. If you buy a cheap bike like the Wellington which weighs about 25 lbs and has Sora or Claris than you will want to upgrade quickly. The whole point of spending money up front on a nicer bike is you wont' feel the need to upgrade
I'm not doubting you or calling that no-crash status into question, but you must be a much more cautious rider than myself or most anyone I've ever ridden with! Being more cautious than me isn't saying much... I still ride with the enthusiasm of a little kid.

As for the weight of the Wellington... with aerobars, a lock, bottle racks, frame bag, lights etc on it, mine is 25 lbs... and it's a larger frame. It's an older Wellington, though. The new ones they're selling have crap components & a lower price.

I don't necessarily disagree with your point about buying a "nicer" bike up front. A purchaser just needs to consider their confidence in whether that's the style of cycling they're going to be wanting to do.
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Old 07-03-14, 02:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Roopull
I'm not doubting you or calling that no-crash status into question, but you must be a much more cautious rider than myself or most anyone I've ever ridden with! Being more cautious than me isn't saying much... I still ride with the enthusiasm of a little kid.

As for the weight of the Wellington... with aerobars, a lock, bottle racks, frame bag, lights etc on it, mine is 25 lbs... and it's a larger frame. It's an older Wellington, though. The new ones they're selling have crap components & a lower price.

I don't necessarily disagree with your point about buying a "nicer" bike up front. A purchaser just needs to consider their confidence in whether that's the style of cycling they're going to be wanting to do.
Exactly. Words of wisdom here. After putting in a few thousand miles, the OP might decide to focus on long touring-type rides. Perhaps with bags/panniers. Or riding on gravel back roads such as dominates around my 'hood. This would require fat tires and a longer wheelbase.

Or perhaps the OP turns out to be an immensely talented 'crit rider, and has to upgrade to a higher-end bike within a year. Or as I see with a lot of new road riders, road riding does not turn out to be their 'thing'. And then a $2k bike collects dust or is sold off on Craigslist at a significant discount. Happens a lot.

We've seen this before boys and girls... I am old enough to remember the early 70's Bike Boom, in which everyone below the age of 40 rushed out and bought a '10-speed' presumably for the heath and environmental benefits. But it turned out that the low bar position and skinny high-pressure tires were inappropriate for most of the riding done by most people, and 40+ years later, these millions of under-used 10-speeds are still issuing out of garages around the continent. In fact the 'fixie' fad that recently flamed-out fed on these old steel-framed bikes for their raw material.

But in the end, like all of the previous fads in the bike industry, the 'road bike' thing will also flame out, leaving thousands of orphaned carbon frame road bikes out there. Good times.

I never stopped riding the 10-speed I bought in 1973, even during the lean years in the 90's when you could not give away a road bike. I look forward to the time about 3 years from now when the $2k carbon bikes will be abandoned in droves and I can finally upgrade!

Back to the decision faced by the OP.... he or she should make sure that road riding isn't just going to be a 30 day adventure - before spending a lot of money.
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Old 07-03-14, 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by CactoesGel
I didn't think this was the forum for that crap.
Sadly, you were mistaken, and it's a shame. I think you made a great choice. You set a budget, you did your research, you made a choice. Now, when you get it, ride it like you stole it! By the way, welcome to BF. It really is a great place to learn, share and hang out.

And when you get the bike, pix or it didn't happen!!!

Getting back to the original topic - can you tell us more about yourself? You were a runner. That implies you may be in decent shape? What type of riding do you want to do? Any injuries?

If you likes the Synapse, you owe it to yourself to ride a Giant Defy Advanced. Before I bought my bike, I took a day and test rode every bike any shop would allow me to ride. The list included:

Giant Defy Advanced 2 and 3 (different models)
Tarmac
Roubaix
Synapse
Orbea Onyx
Felt Z something

My observations - The Defy Advanced 2 was my favorite hands down. The Orbea was my least favorite, the Synapse barely beat that, though to be fair, it was one size too small. The entry-level Roubaix felt dead. The only way I can explain the ride on the Tarmac is that it BEGGED to be ridden harder and mocked me when I couldn't deliver. I loved it, but thought it would be a good +1 bike for me.

So, then I took a year and a half for a medical issue, but when I came back, I bought my Lynskey - and yes, this was my first road bike since high school.

I'm not saying the Synapse isn't a great bike. You have to ride what feels best to you, and if it's the Synapse, then that's the right bike for you, no matter what other people think. But ride all you can and see which bike "speaks" to you, then enjoy whatever it is you decide to buy.
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Old 07-04-14, 11:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Roopull
I'm not doubting you or calling that no-crash status into question, but you must be a much more cautious rider than myself or most anyone I've ever ridden with! Being more cautious than me isn't saying much... I still ride with the enthusiasm of a little kid.

.
You're probably correct. He's never managed to drive his fork through the quarter panel of a Buick Century.
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Old 07-04-14, 11:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Dave Mayer
Exactly. Words of wisdom here. After putting in a few thousand miles, the OP might decide to focus on long touring-type rides. Perhaps with bags/panniers. Or riding on gravel back roads such as dominates around my 'hood. This would require fat tires and a longer wheelbase.

Or perhaps the OP turns out to be an immensely talented 'crit rider, and has to upgrade to a higher-end bike within a year. Or as I see with a lot of new road riders, road riding does not turn out to be their 'thing'. And then a $2k bike collects dust or is sold off on Craigslist at a significant discount. Happens a lot.

We've seen this before boys and girls... I am old enough to remember the early 70's Bike Boom, in which everyone below the age of 40 rushed out and bought a '10-speed' presumably for the heath and environmental benefits. But it turned out that the low bar position and skinny high-pressure tires were inappropriate for most of the riding done by most people, and 40+ years later, these millions of under-used 10-speeds are still issuing out of garages around the continent. In fact the 'fixie' fad that recently flamed-out fed on these old steel-framed bikes for their raw material.

But in the end, like all of the previous fads in the bike industry, the 'road bike' thing will also flame out, leaving thousands of orphaned carbon frame road bikes out there. Good times.

I never stopped riding the 10-speed I bought in 1973, even during the lean years in the 90's when you could not give away a road bike. I look forward to the time about 3 years from now when the $2k carbon bikes will be abandoned in droves and I can finally upgrade!

Back to the decision faced by the OP.... he or she should make sure that road riding isn't just going to be a 30 day adventure - before spending a lot of money.
What does " the road bike thing" mean? I just got into the sport last year and never notice a fad so to speak in road bikes being like smart phones or something where it took off all of a sudden and exploded in the market.
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Old 07-04-14, 10:43 PM
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Happy 4th of July everyone!!!

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Old 07-04-14, 11:38 PM
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^^^^Now THAT'S a beautiful bike! Hope you're enjoying your Synapse... we'd enjoy pictures of that as well (and a ride report)!
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Old 07-23-14, 09:07 PM
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Émonda SL 6

Hey guys!

First and foremost, I'd like to thank everyone that voted and posted on this thread. It has helped me tremendously, not only in choosing my first bike but also in helping me open my eyes into other things road bike related.

After much deliberation, I ordered an Émonda SL 6 last Sunday, it arrived at my LBS yesterday, and I finally picked it up today.

I was "this" close to buying a Carbon Synapse 105 but I couldn't find the color & size. I then decided to wait for the 2015 until...I took an Émonda for a test drive one day. I took it for another spin the next day, and felt it rode better "to me" than the Carbon Synapse. In the end, it worked out. I'm very happy. I couldn't wait to ride it tomorrow after work.

Again, thanks for helping me with this decision. I hope to see you on the road!






I'm only 5'3". I felt more comfortable on the 50cm versus the 52cm.

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Old 07-24-14, 06:36 AM
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For those worried about the strength of carbon. I don't understand the workings of this, but here is what I can add:
My husband has built a kit motorglider. Carbon mostly. They are made of carbon because of the ease of repairs. Carbon is designed that in the event of a break the frame takes the impact and not the person. Look at a carbon sailplane. The boom (the really little circular area from the front to the tail) is designed to break in the case of a tailspin on landing. This is much safer than an aluminum plane which will tailspin (hitting a wingtip on landing can cause a spin) and possibly flip and cause a much worse accident. Carbon is fairly easy to fix and just as strong as originally built it done properly. On the sailplane that broke at the boom - you just fix the boom with carbon and it is good to fly again. We own a private airport and have a repair shop in residence. They repair carbon all of the time. Yes there aren't a lot of places that do carbon, but it is easily repaired and in many cases stronger than originally built. Aluminum which bends will always have a weakness in the area of the bend.

And on another note I am also getting a Cannondale Synapse 5 105 aluminum womens bike. I can't pay for it now so it is on layaway. For me the aluminum is affordable over the carbon. And at another bike shop I was put on a carbon bike to see the differences between carbon and aluminum and I wasn't comfortable yet with the extreme lightweight of the carbon, but I am riding a mountain bike right now with hybrid road tires so my bike probably weighs 35 lbs.

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Old 07-24-14, 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by CactoesGel
Hey guys!

First and foremost, I'd like to thank everyone that voted and posted on this thread. It has helped me tremendously, not only in choosing my first bike but also in helping me open my eyes into other things road bike related.

After much deliberation, I ordered an Émonda SL 6 last Sunday, it arrived at my LBS yesterday, and I finally picked it up today.

I was "this" close to buying a Carbon Synapse 105 but I couldn't find the color & size. I then decided to wait for the 2015 until...I took an Émonda for a test drive one day. I took it for another spin the next day, and felt it rode better "to me" than the Carbon Synapse. In the end, it worked out. I'm very happy. I couldn't wait to ride it tomorrow after work.

Again, thanks for helping me with this decision. I hope to see you on the road!






I'm only 5'3". I felt more comfortable on the 50cm versus the 52cm.
Wow, hell of a "first bike"!!!!! Enjoy the ride, let us know how you like it! Looks pretty "stealthy"!
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Old 07-24-14, 11:55 AM
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Originally Posted by CactoesGel
After much deliberation, I ordered an Émonda SL 6 last Sunday, it arrived at my LBS yesterday, and I finally picked it up today.
Congrats. That bike will take you far.
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Old 07-25-14, 09:14 AM
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Originally Posted by loimpact
Well, I will say this as someone who's been eyeballing road bikes a couple months now.

#1 .) Yes, many a first-time road bike buyer here would assume that 105 is the VERY bottom rung of the ladder.

#2 .) Only recently have I heard anybody suggest that Tiagra is not so bad. (But I still don't think anybody's giving Sora the thumbs up just yet)

#3 .) I would go so far as to say that a first-time buyer reading this forum daily could EASILY get caught up into thinking they SHOULD get Ultegra (and 6800 at that) just to keep themselves out of obsolescence and really consider going Di2 to cut to the chase of the future.

All that said......most reading here long enough should realize that a full 105 bike is a good starter as well as a good chaser, racer, puller, climber, cruiser, etc. It's just a solid group set

I would also suggest a Fuji Gran Fondo to the OP if the Synapse appeals.
Sounds familiar. Was putzing around on my $199 mountain bike I got from the local automotive shop for a few months then started thinking about upgrading. Research lead me to this forum. Wound up with a Madone 5.5 (SRAM Force) as an acceptable first road bike. It's so crisp.
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Old 07-26-14, 08:35 PM
  #100  
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If my scale is accurate, this bike is pretty light, given it's only 50cm

My first day, I did 6.8 miles, the next day I did 9.8 miles. Rest today. Tomorrow, I'm going to attempt 25 miles. My butt needs to rest.


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